Q. I have had Tecoma stans, Yellow bells, in the backyard as
well as lantana for the past 3 or 4 summers. They do well but never winter over.
When I dig them up to replant, the root structures seem to be healthy and
alive. The tag on the plant says they are cold hardy. Is there anything I can
do to help them winter over?
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| Picture of Yellow Bells from Arizona State University website |
A. Are you thinking they are dead because the tops die back?
It is seldom that I see these plants totally die out in the winter here. They do
frequently die back to within a few inches of the soil surface during the
winter.
It is seldom that I see these plants totally die out in the winter here. They do
frequently die back to within a few inches of the soil surface during the
winter.
They then can
be cut back to about one inch from the ground in February and they come back
like gangbusters in early spring with some water and fertilizer.
be cut back to about one inch from the ground in February and they come back
like gangbusters in early spring with some water and fertilizer.
.JPG) |
| Lantana cut back in the winter to about two inches in a rock mulch in Las Vegas. |
If they are
dead, I am wondering if they are not getting enough water during the winter
months to keep the roots from dying out. Normally a watering schedule of about
every ten days or so would be enough during the winter to keep them alive.
dead, I am wondering if they are not getting enough water during the winter
months to keep the roots from dying out. Normally a watering schedule of about
every ten days or so would be enough during the winter to keep them alive.
Otherwise
try mulching over the tops of the plants with a few inches of wood mulch to
keep the winter cold from damaging the roots. It is very rare these would die
out in the winter here under normal landscape situations.
try mulching over the tops of the plants with a few inches of wood mulch to
keep the winter cold from damaging the roots. It is very rare these would die
out in the winter here under normal landscape situations.